Rev’d Canon Dr Shannon LedbetterFounder & Chair

Day job:

Shannon is an Anglican priest with extensive experience of ministry in some of the most deprived urban areas in the north of England.

Experience / background:

From January 2005 to May 2009 Shannon was project manager for New Anfield / Breckfield, employed by Liverpool City Council and working with commercial, community and public partners to deliver the regeneration initiatives associated with a proposed new stadium for Liverpool Football Club and the restoration of a listed Victorian park. This role included responsibility for major regeneration projects, community facilities, education, health, arts projects and housing. Other projects have included developing an engagement programme of education and skills training for ‘at risk’ individuals; organising a statue of Kitty Wilkinson for the historic St George’s Hall, Liverpool and developing education and tourism materials for the ‘Walk of Faith‘ in Liverpool.

What Shannon brings to HPBC:

Shannon has, undoubtedly, been the driving force behind our charity since she founded it in 2002. Her resourcefulness, enthusiasm, faith and commitment have been instrumental in helping us to reach our current position. She leads and motivates the staff, volunteers, trustees and supporters to ensure the charity’s ongoing success.

Linda BrightTrustee & chair of PR & Marketing Committee

Day job:

Co-owner of Active Public Relations, a North West PR consultancy of over 20 years standing and representing several private housebuilder clients, including the UK-wide operations of Redrow Homes.

Experience / background:

Prior to becoming a PR consultant, Linda was a journalist for provincial weekly and evening newspapers and now uses her skills to advise clients on media related and general marketing matters and to generate positive coverage for clients in a variety of print, broadcast and online media. Working largely with private housebuilders, Linda is familiar with the sometimes controversial issues of planning and development and handling sensitive situations. She also has extensive experience of regeneration projects that involve several different partners and stakeholders, as well as initiatives designed to help first time buyers and other home buyers on modest incomes.

What Linda brings to HPBC:

Linda brings her wide knowledge and insight of the national private housing sector to our operation, as well as her practical skills of copy writing, editing and dealing with journalists. Her enthusiasm and commitment to the community aspects of the charity’s work adds the human element to press releases and communications showcasing our unique and special role in the sector.

Bill ChandlerTrustee

Day job:

As Legal Director/Professional Support Lawyer at Hill Dickinson LLP, Bill provides technical legal support to the law firm’s national Property and Construction team and its clients. He is a regular speaker on the Hill Dickinson client seminar programme and at events organised by professional bodies (including the Law Society and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and has delivered over 150 seminars. He has devised and presented a number of internal training courses, one of which was shortlisted for The Lawyer magazine’s ‘Excellence in Training’ award; and writes regular articles for the firm's newsletters, the local press and various legal and property publications, including Estates Gazette and Property Law Journal.

Experience / background:

Prior to assuming his present role, Bill was a partner at Hill Dickinson, with over 10 years' transactional experience on all aspects of commercial property work. Specialities include: All aspects of commercial property, including acquisitions and disposals, development work and landlord & tenant.

What Bill brings to HPBC:

Our very own ‘legal eagle’, with almost 25 years of field experience, Bill brings a skilled and critical eye to HPBC's legal dealings and contract negotiations, whilst his knowledge and experience of property acquisitions and disposals is invaluable. As we explore new opportunities with potential development partners Bill’s legal expertise is crucial.

Brian EmmottTrustee

Day job:

Semi-retired founder and director of Terre Initiative Limited and its International Real Estate Advisory Network, a not-for-profit company formed to help various participants in real estate markets by bringing together the public and private sectors; launched in 1998 by the then Executive Secretary of UN Economic Commission for Europe.

He’s also:

UK nominated representative to UN Economic Commission for Europe’s Real Estate Market Advisory Group (UNECE REM), responsible for advising the 56 member States of UNECE, which includes the USA, Canada, Russia, the whole of Europe and Central Asia, signatory to UN Global Compact and active member of the UK Network.

A member of the steering group for a joint project by UN Global Compact and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (UNGC/RICS) to create a resource for the land, real estate and construction sectors. Launched in June 2015 as ‘Advancing Responsible Business in Land, Construction and Real Estate Use and Investment’.

Honorary roving consultant to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Planning’s National Housing Taskforce, which is being run and coordinated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Experience / background:

Previously Brian was involved in the operational side of the Banking and Finance industry for over 50 years and played a key role in the development of electronic banking, finance and commerce from their infancy with Chemical Bank (now JP Morgan) and General Electric Information Services.

What Brian brings to HPBC:

Brian brings with him a wealth of knowledge and contacts through his working experience and now the UNECE REM, etc. He grew up in Liverpool and has always retained a keen interest in its development. Especially interested in the HPBC project given its unique approach, devoted and talented people and the ability to spread its influence and experience to other projects, not just in Liverpool but especially in the North West, initially, and the rest of the UK. Also to possibly bring some experiences from the member states of UNECE that may be appropriate to the UK, and vice-versa.

Allan FosterTrustee

Day job:

Allan is an independent design consultant specialising in the design and off-site manufacture of high quality, zero carbon housing for the affordable housing sector and community-led developments. Recent commissions include design of modular housing for Primes Structures Ltd and City West Housing Trust, securing planning approval for a modular housing project by Keswick Community Housing Trust, and compliance audit training and audit review for Helena Partnerships.

Experience / background:

An architect by profession, Allan spent six years as a design and standards manager for the Homes & Communities Agency, the government’s housing, land and regeneration agency, and the regulator of social housing providers in England. It was in that role that Allan first became familiar with our project.

Allan is also a qualified assessor for Lifetime Homes, Building for Life and the now defunct Code for Sustainable Homes, which is being replaced with new national technical standards for housebuilding. He’s also an experienced Quality Assurance auditor.

What Allan brings to HPBC:

Allan’s design skills and his knowledge and experience of modern building methods, especially in the affordable and community led housing sector, is invaluable to HPBC as we seek to pursue new projects that not only emulate, but hopefully improve upon, the success of our Kingsley Road project.

Jim GillTrustee & member of Resource Development Committee

Day job:

Previously Chief Executive of Liverpool Vision, now retired, Jim remains active in the City as Chairman of Professional Liverpool, the Chrysalis Fund and the Commercial District BID, as well as advising the City Council on development issues.

Experience / background:

As Chief Executive of Liverpool Vision – the country's first city centre urban regeneration company – Jim oversaw a massive expansion of the commercial district, the city's retail and tourism 'offer' and transformation of the world-famous waterfront. Awarded the OBE for services to regeneration in 2006, he previously held senior roles with English Partnerships and the AMEC group of engineering, building and development companies, after beginning his career as an economist with the Department of Trade and Industry.

What Jim brings to HPBC:

Jim is one of Liverpool's leading regeneration experts. His knowledge and practical experience of regeneration is invaluable to our charity, as is his network of contacts across the Liverpool City region and beyond. He plays an influential role in discussions with local and central government and other public sector bodies.

Felicity WrenFounding trustee & member of the Family Selection Committee

Day job:

Having spent the majority of her working life in education, Felicity is now running an art gallery and café in her ‘retirement’.

Experience/background:

Felicity’s experience is mainly working with young people in the creative world, exploring ideas, processes and techniques in a variety of areas of Art and Design, including photography. She is passionate about helping people to achieve their dreams and develop their potential; and has run her own art gallery for more than 25 years.

A member of Merseyside Civic Society for more than 20 years and on the committee for most of that time, Felicity has gleaned ‘a modicum’ of information and experience of planning, developments and related issues, which enhances her input to HPBC.

What Felicity brings to HPBC:

Felicity is proud to have been one of the founding board members of the charity and is thrilled to have seen the first houses arise from the bare ground on Kingsley Road. She brings enthusiasm and commitment to HPBC and spreads the word about our charity with passion and energy to everyone she meets!

Housing People Building Communities is a UK Company Limited by Guarantee, no. 04839075, and UK Registered Charity no. 1102135